English News.

New Zealander, Volume I, Issue 10, 9 August 1845, Page 3

English News.

The barque Robert Matthews, 303 tons, Captain Phillip-., arrived in Sidney from England on the 10th July, having left London on the 17th, and thel)ov\ns on the 19th Maich, bringing pnpeis to the 18th, being later news b) a fortnight than had been previously leceived. The most important will be found in the following compendium extracted from the latest London and provincial new spapeis. The, Queen and Prince Albert, and theßojdl Family were in pei feet health, Her Majesty, it was stated, intended to visit Ii eland in the course of the summer.

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT. On Tuesday, February 4th, her Majesiy-opened the session of parliament in person, in the House of Lords. Her Majesty's " faithful Commons " being summoned, they approached the bar with the bpeaker at their head, their leader bowing as he advanced, when silence being restored, her Majesty proceeded to deliver the following Most Gracious Speech. Mv Lords, and Gentlemen, I rejoice that 1 am enabled, on again meeting you in parliament, to congratulate you on the improved condition of the country. increased activity pervades almost every branch of manufactuie ; trade and commerce have been extended at home and abroad, and among all clashes of my people there is generally prevalent a spirit of loyalty and cheerful obedience to the law. I continue 10 receive lrom all foreign Powers or States assurances of their friendly disposition. I have much satisfaction in receiving at my court the sovereigns who, in the course of last year, visited this country, The journey of the Emperor of Russia, undertaken at a great sacrifice of private convenience was a pi oof of the friendship of his Imperial Majesty most acceptable to my feelings. The opportunity of personal intercourse thus afforded to me may, 1 hope, be the means of btill further improving those amicable relations which have long existed between Great Britain and Russia. The vi'jt of the King of the French was rendered especially welcome to me, inasmuch as it had been preceded by discussions which might have impaired the good understanding happily established between the two countries, I regaid the maintenance of this good understanding as ssseutml to the best interests of both; and 1 rejoiced to witness that the sentiments so cordially expressed by all classes of mj subjects on the occasion of his Maje-ty's visit were entirely in unison with my own. Gl NTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF COMMOVS. The estimates tur the ensuing y?ar have been preparcil, and will forthwith be laid beloie you. The progress of steam navigation, and the demands for protection to the extended commerce of the country will occasion an increase in the estimates connected with the naval service. Mv Lords ang Gentlemen, I have observed with sincere satisfaction that the improvement which is manifest in other parts of the couutry has extended to irelaud, I The political agitation and excitement which I have had hcreiolore occasiun to lament, appear to have gradually abated, aud, as a natural result, piivate capital has been more lieely applied to useful public emerpiues, undertaken through the lnendly co-ope-ratiou ot individuals interested in the welfare of Ireland. 1 have cairied into effect, in the spirit in which it was conceived, ihe act Jor the mote effectual application oi tha, liable donations and bucmtsts. I let-oimuuul jo }our favourable consideration the policy ot improving and extending the opportunities ior academical education in Ireland. The report of the commission appointed to enquire into tlie law and practice in lespcet to the occupation of nearly prepared, and shall be communicated to you immediately alter its presentation.

The state of the law iv regard to the pnveleges of the Bank of Ireland, and to other banking establishments in that country, and in Scotland, will no doubt occupy your attention. The health of the inhabitants of large towns and populous districts in this part of the United Kingdom has been the subject of a recent enquiry before a com* mission, the report of which shall be immediately laid before you. It will be highly gratifying to me if the information and suggestions contained in the report shall enable you to devise the means of promoting the health and comfort of the poorer classes of my subjects. I congratulate you on the success of the measures which three years since were adopted by parliament for the purpose of supplying the deficiency in the public revenue, and arresting the accumulation of debt in the time of peace. The act which was passed at that .ime for imposing a tax upon income will shortly expire. It will be for you, in your wisdom, to determine whether it may not be expedient to continue its operation fora further period, and thus to obtain the means of adequately providing for the public service, and at the same tima of making a reduction in other taxation. Whatever may be the result of your deliberations in tliis respect, I feel assured that it will bp your determination to mdintainan amount ot revenue amply suflicient to meet the necessary expenditure of the country, andfirn ly to uphold that public credit which is indispensable to the national welfare. The prospect of continued peace, and the general state of domestic prospeiity and tranquillity, afford a favourable opportunity for the consideration ot the important matters to which I have directed your attention : and I commit them to your deliberation, with the earnest prayer that you may be enabled under the superintending care and protection of Divine 1 10* vidence, to strengthen the feeling* of mutual confidence and eoodwill between different classes ot my subjects, and to improve the condition of my people.' Her Majesty read the speech in the same e'ftvc- , tive manner which marked the delivery of the first speech she made before parliament. Her perfect enunciation, and clear melodious voice, enabled Her Majesty to make every word of the rouil address be distinctly heaid in there motest corner of the house. The allusions to the income ; tax and to Ireland were listened to with peculiar' interest, and some of the peers and corain oners exchanged significant glances. Mer Majesty read j the last paragraph of ihe speech slowly and most emphatically. The Speaker then bowed and retired with the members of the other house Her Majesty was escorted to the long gallery by the officers of state, and bowed to the peeresses and peeis as she left the house. Prince Albert also bowed several times. Her Majesty looked exceedingly well, and seemed to be in the enjoyment of perfect health.

The Income Ta x Bill had passed through Committeej several amendments were proposed, but they were all negatived by large majorities. The Sugar Duties Bill had also passed through Committee on Fridayi the 14th March, and the Repoj t was to have been brought up on Mondaj night following The rejection of Mr. Salamons by the citizens on his claiming those municipal honois to which his high character and position so eminently entitled ~him, has led to the initiation, by the government, of a Bill to relieve the Jews fioin certain civil disabilities. The substance of the measure is the providing for the omission of the -voids, "On the true faith of a Christian," irom the oaths and declarations made by persons receiving municipal honors. Mr. W. E. Gladstone, President of the Board of Trade has retired, and has been succeeded by Lord Dalhousie, whose place as Vice President has been taken by Sir Ge>>r»e Clerk, who was succeeded by the Hoii. Henry Fuzroy, M.P., for Lewes. Sir Thos. Freemautle was the new Secretary for Ireland, and was succeeded as Secretary at War, by the Hon. Sydney Hc-bert. Mr. Cardwell was the new Secretary to the Treasury. The circumstanrcs under which Mr. Gladstone retired from the Ministry, are so creditable to him, that they demand special notice. Mr. Gladstone's views as to the relation the Slate ought to bear to the Church 'are well known, and finding that Sir R. Peel was determined to propose additional votes of money for the support of the Roman Catholic Religion, he protested " against paying 1 , from the money of the State, a set of men whose business would be the inculcation of erroneous doctrines," and retired from the Ministry. Mr. W. E. Gladstone, it was stated, was about to return to the Ministry as Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Sir William Follett was to be appointed Lord High Chancellor. Lord Wharnliffe would retire from the Presidency of the Council, in older to make way for Lord Lyndhurst. The French Cabinet was in an embarrassing position. Eight members out of nine of the Committee on the proposition for the reduction of the five per cents, had pronounced in favor of immediate conversion, and yet the Minister of Finance was as resolved as ever to resist such a measure. It was reported that 300 of the senior Captains of the Navy were about to retire ; that hencefoith the Captains' List will never be allowed to exceed 500 during Peace, and that it will always be kept a really effective one. Amongst the deaths we notice the following : — The Attorney Geneial to Her Majesty the Queen Dowager, and Her Majesty the Queen's Sergeant at -Law, William Taddy, Esq.— Major General Sir Thomas Corseliis, C. C. B. — Professor Daniels, of King's College, ver> suddenly, after delivering a lecture.— Sir J. Guinev, Baron of tho Exchequer. — Geneial Putchard. — Lord Wjnford, General Sir T. Saumarez, Loid Churchill, ViceAdmiral Sir T. Baker, tiie Countess of Aylesfoid, grandmother, we believe.of Mis Campbell Riddell, Mr. Hay, Consul-General at Motocco, and Miss Linwood, of needlework celebrity. Affaiisin Ireland weie mote tranquil than usual. O'Counell still had his weekly meetings; the rent, however, for the week ending 10th Mcirch onl) amounted to £477 ]ss. 3d! With regard to New Zealand, and the discussions that va ere going on relative to recent occurrences in that quartet, the Standard of March 17, observes — "That much national advantage would accrue horn them, although painful for the tune ' to the New Zealand Company and the Government. That fcuiltshad piobably been committed' on both sides, and by biinging thojje faults pi o- ' minenlly torwaid, a better system with regard to colonisation geneially would at last be matured."

In fui ure there are to he Iwo mail packets monthly, one on the ]sf, and the other on fhe 13lh of ever> month for Sydney. Official notifications of the appointment of Sir John Franklin to the Erebus, and Commander i Crozier to the Terror, have been published. The Arctic expedition was to sail in May. In reference to the Ministi), the Church and State Gazette has the following paragraph:— " We have heard that the Lord Chancellor will resign his office during tlm Easter recess, and that Lord Wharncliffewill retire from the presidency of the Council in order to make way for Loid Lyndlmrst. Sir William Follett, we believe, will be the new Chancellor. It is rumoured also that Mr. Gladstone will again join the Ministiy us Chancellor of the Exchequer, vice Mr. Goulburn, who will resign his office." The trial of John Tawell for the murder of Sarah Hart, commenced at Aylesbury on the 1 2th of March, and lasted for three days. He was found guilty and oidered for execution on Monday the 24th of Maich. The result of the trial appeared to give general satisfaction to the inhabitants of Birkhamstead. Two gentlemen from, the prisoner's solicitor arrived at the King's Arms in that town, express from Aylesbiny, and immediately proceeded to the residence of the unhappy Mrs. Taw ell, to whom it was communicated, in the presence of the piisoner's brother and Miss Cutforth, an interesting young lady about 17, a daughtei of Mrs. Tawell by her former husband. On hearing the shocking news — so opposite to what she anxiously looked forward, to with confidence, she fainted away, and it was found necessary to call medical assistance 1o her aid. Her bufferings throughout the day were most intense; but on Saturday she appeared more calm and was a little better. Death of Vice-Admiral SrR T. Baker, K. C. B :— This gallant officer died at Walmer, 'Kent, on Wednesday, 12th March. He was in his 72nd year. The deceased who previous to i entering the navy in August 1781, had beenin the service of the East India Company, during the late war rendered considerable service to his country. In 1799, then Captain Baker, he was ap- ! pointed to the l\emesis t 28, and in 1800, was enti usted with the command of a squadron in the North Sea Three years afterwards he was ap- | pointed to the command of the Pluznix, and 'in ISOS, in that vessel of war, after a most determined and gallaut resistance captured the French, frigate Didon of superior force. While in command of the same ship he assisted in Sir Richard Strachans action off Ferrol. He was engaged in active service until the termination of the war. The late gallant Admiral was a Knight of the Sword of Sweden, and a Knight of the Order of Wiiuelm of the Netherlands, having received the latter distinction for his services in disembarking a body of seamen on the coast of Holland, in November, IS 13. In June, 1831, he was nominated by the late King a Knight Commander of tne Order of the Bath. The deceased was one of those officers who have received both honorary and pecuniary reward from the patriotic fund. The Lords of the Admiralty, in February, 1542. as a mark of their regard for the long and distinguished services of the deceased, gran fed him a vacant "good service pension" of £300 per annum. His Commissions were dated as follows : — Lieutenant, 13th October, 1792; Commander, 24th November, 1795 ; Captain, 13th June, 1797; Rear Admiral. 19th July, 1821 j and Vice-Admi-ral, lOth'January, 1837.